Spencer Strider Adding A Curveball?

Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Strider threw something that looked as much like a curveball in spring training on Monday as anything he's ever thrown. Strider said he's toying with slider shapes in camp just to get a feel for things as he prepares for the 2024 regular season. Ranked as the top starting pitcher by […]

Brett Baty Made Adjustments To His Swing

New York Mets third baseman Brett Baty took to video scouting of himself after his rookie season to get a better sense of what went wrong in 2023 and how he can fix it. "My top hand was a huge thing. I just needed to get that stronger and really just try to be more […]

Mets Agree On Minors Deal With Luke Voit

The New York Mets agreed to terms on a minor-league deal with an invitation to major-league spring training on Monday with free-agent first baseman/designated hitter Luke Voit. The 33-year-old right-handed slugger will return to the Mets after finishing the 2023 campaign playing for Triple-A Syracuse, where he had a strong 1.058 OPS with 14 home […]

Starling Marte Ready To Play Every Day

New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte (groin) played winter ball last month and is confident in his health and ability to play right field every day for the start of the 2024 season after missing most of the final two months of 2023 with a right-groin strain. The 35-year-old veteran underwent double-groin surgery the previous […]

Liam Hendriks Signs With Red Sox

Free-agent reliever Liam Hendriks (elbow) agreed to a two-year, $10 million guaranteed deal on Monday with the Boston Red Sox, pending a physical. The deal includes additional performance bonuses and an option for the 2026 season. The 35-year-old veteran overcame non-Hodgkin's lymphoma last year but then ended up needing Tommy John surgery last August, which […]

Kenley Jansen Throwing Monday

Boston Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen (lat), who arrived to camp last Wednesday with lat soreness and was shut down for several days, is throwing on Monday against a ploy wall at spring training. While Jansen is a bit behind the other pitchers in camp, as long as he doesn't suffer any setbacks, he should […]

Bruce Bochy Not Naming A Specific Closer

Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy is not naming a specific closer with the 2024 season approaching, saying "there is no pecking order" between right-hander Jose Leclerc and the rest of the bullpen at the start of spring training. Right now, the best bet is that Leclerc will mainly be competing with fellow right-hander David Robertson […]

Yankees Have Made An Offer To Blake Snell

Free-agent left-hander Blake Snell, the National League Cy Young winner in 2023 with the San Diego Padres, has an official offer on the table from the New York Yankees, according to a source. However, the Los Angeles Angels and San Francisco Giants remain possibilities for Snell as well. It's a pretty big surprise that Snell […]

Brandon Woodruff Back With The Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers and right-hander Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) agreed to an undisclosed two-year deal on Monday. The Brewers non-tendered Woodruff this offseason after he had surgery to fix the anterior capsule in his right shoulder, but the 31-year-old veteran will now be back in Milwaukee. Because of his injury, he won't pitch at all in […]

Mike Trout Doesn't Want To Be Traded Right Now

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout said that he's happy in Anaheim right now, but he also left open the possibility that he'd be open to a trade down the line. Trout also said he's been pushing ownership to make more additions heading into the 2024 regular season, but he's unsure if will actually happen. […]

Matt Canterino Healthy At Camp

Minnesota Twins right-hander Matt Canterino (elbow), who had Tommy John surgery in August of 2022 and didn't pitch at all last year, is fully healthy at spring training and is eager to show what he can do after being drafted in the second round in 2019. The 26-year-old has been dominant in three minor-league seasons […]

Ryan Jeffers, Christian Vazquez To Split Catching Duties

Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said on Saturday that he expects catchers Ryan Jeffers and Christian Vazquez to split playing time close to evenly this year. The Twins signed Vazquez to a three-year, $30 million deal last winter, but the 33-year-old veteran had the worst season of his career, hitting .223 (73-for-327) with six homers […]

Christian Vazquez Determined To Bounce Back

Minnesota Twins veteran catcher Christian Vazquez has improved bat speed and is more fit in spring training this year as he looks to bounce back from a disappointing 2023 season after signing a three-year, $30 million deal with the team in December of 2022. Ryan Jeffers took over the lead duties behind the dish over […]

Louie Varland Being Stretched Out As Starter

The Minnesota Twins are planning to stretch right-hander Louie Varland out as a starter in camp, although he could still be moved back to the bullpen at some point. To help him try and lock down a starting role in 2024, the 26-year-old has been working on improving his two-seam fastball and his slider. He […]

Kutter Crawford Working On Splitter

Boston Red Sox right-hander Kutter Crawford is working on a split-finger fastball in spring training that he's hoping will better complement his existing arsenal. "All my stuff is moving glove side, away from righties and into lefties. The splitter would open up the other side of the plate," Crawford said. The 27-year-old began eventually settled […]

Justyn-Henry Malloy Vying For One Of Final Roster Spots

Detroit Tigers outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy gives the team the most offensive potential for the final bench spot to open the 2024 regular season, as he had a .417 on-base percentage at Triple-A Toledo last year. He's now focusing exclusively on playing outfield rather than spending time at third base, which could severely hurt his chances […]

Ezequiel Duran To Spend More Time At Third Base

Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said that infielder Ezequiel Duran will now spend more time at third base and the infield as a whole than in the outfield with starting third baseman Josh Jung (calf) out for two to three weeks with a calf strain suffered in Friday. The team's No. 6 prospect, Justin Foscue, […]

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. In Better Shape?

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been working out with personal trainer Nicole Gabriel for much of the winter, and by the looks of images and videos posted to her Instagram account, Guerrero's results are impressive, according to the Toronto Sun's Rob Longley. "I think there will be some impressed eyes in […]

Montez Sweat Could Use Some Help In Chicago

Most people will be watching to see what the Chicago Bears do at quarterback this offseason, but The Athletic's Kevin Fishbain thinks the team also needs to add pass-rush help opposite Montez Sweat. Sweat made the Pro Bowl in 2023 and was an instant impact player for the Bears after they acquired him from the […]

Bryce Young Needs Weapons On Offense

The Carolina Panthers went 2-15 last year and fired both their head coach and general manager. They have all kinds of needs this offseason, but The Athletic's Joe Person thinks that their biggest priority should be getting young quarterback Bryce Young some help in the passing game. DJ Chark Jr. ranked in the bottom 10 […]

Bills Need To Give Stefon Diggs Help

The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia believes that the wide receiver position is the Buffalo Bills' biggest need heading into the new league year in 2024. The Bills will still have quarterback Josh Allen and receiver Stefon Diggs, but the second half of last year yielded a lack of consistent explosive plays on offense and capped some […]

Ravens Need To Address Their Offensive Line

The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec believes that offensive line is the Baltimore Ravens' biggest need heading into the new league year and the 2024 NFL draft. Both starting guards Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson will be unrestricted free agents, and their two starting tackles, Ronnie Stanley and Morgan Moses, are 29 and 32, respectively, and are […]

Steelers Appear To Have Internal Division Over QB Position

The Pittsburgh Steelers will head into the 2024 season with the idea that quarterback Kenny Pickett, who has gone 14-10 so far, will be their No. 1 QB. However, they also won't go in with the same hope they had this time last year when they were encouraged by how Pickett finished his rookie season […]

Chase Anderson Agrees With Pirates On Minor-League Contract

Free-agent right-hander Chase Anderson agreed with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday on a minor-league deal that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, according to a source. Anderson will be in camp with the Bucs this year looking to win a roster spot for the start of the 2024 regular season. The 36-year-old veteran hasn't […]

White Sox Agree With Bryan Shaw On Minors Pact

The Chicago White Sox agreed to terms on a minor-league deal with an invitation to major-league spring training with free-agent right-hander Bryan Shaw on Saturday. Shaw returns to the White Sox after recording a 4.14 ERA (3.87 FIP), a 1.23 WHIP, a career-high four saves, 17 walks and 40 strikeouts in 45 2/3 relief innings […]

Nationals Sign Zach Davies To Minor-League Deal

The Washington Nationals signed free-agent right-hander Zach Davies to a minor-league deal with an invitation to big-league spring training on Saturday. The 31-year-old veteran has been in the big leagues for nine years and has a career 4.36 ERA. He spent the last two seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks, going 4-10 with a 5.19 ERA […]

Sal Frelick Working Out On The Infield

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick has been working out at second and third base this offseason under the tutelage of former big-league second baseman Dustin Pedroia. Frelick rated as an above-average defender in both right and center field in his rookie season in 2023, but he's adding to his versatility in camp. The arrival of […]

Brayan Bello Has New-And-Improved Slider

Boston Red Sox right-hander Brayan Bello worked with Pedro Martinez this offseason and has come to camp with a new-and-improved slider that could lead to a significant step forward for the young pitcher in 2024. The 24-year-old could be Boston's most talented starter, and he feels the new slider can be his key third pitch […]

Byron Buxton Says He's Fully Healthy

Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (knee) said he is fully healthy heading into the 2024 season, which has put his mind at ease. He said he expects a normal buildup this spring as he prepares to return to center field for the Twins. "The pain's gone, so I'm a lot more happy. 100 percent. 100 […]

Royals Acquire John Schreiber From Red Sox

The Kansas City Royals acquired right-handed reliever John Schreiber from the Boston Red Sox on Saturday in exchange for minor-league right-hander David Sandlin, according to sources. Schreiber, 29, missed almost two months in 2023 due to a shoulder strain and finished the year with a 3.86 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, one save, 25 walks and 53 […]